Striving for Adaptation

Huh?

Completely suddenly, I felt my body lying on something soft. There was no dream, but I was definitely unconscious for some time. I can feel it. With difficulty, my eyes opened slightly and were immediately blinded by a blindingly bright light. Wow, I'm a tautology expert. Reflexively, I tried to cover them with my hands, but they simply wouldn't move.

"Good, I managed to wake you up. How are you feeling?" Asked a familiar female voice that seemed to be right in front of me. My brain needed several seconds to precisely remember who it belonged to. Ahirata.

"Ahem, Ahirata, could you please turn off those super bright lamps? I'd like to at least open my eyes." I groaned, keeping my eyes closed and trying to wave my hand in the direction of the presumed light source. In the end, I only managed to move a finger.

In response, I felt something soft touch my hand, followed by Ahirata's words: "Hey, it's okay, there's almost no light here. You've just been asleep for over two months, and your eyes need time to even remember what it's like to see."

OVER TWO MONTHS?

"What happened to me!? I blacked out when the mane six won and freed the princesses. I couldn't have been badly hurt after that!" I said panically, suddenly opening my eyes. But quickly closed them when I felt the bright light again.

"Shh, shh, calm down. I deliberately kept you asleep so you wouldn't feel the pain from your own burned skin. Yes, you could have woken up much earlier, but you would have felt terrible pain. So, at least you're not in pain now, right?" Ahirata said soothingly, judging by the sensation, rubbing my hand with something soft. Maybe a glove?

I swallowed slightly and reluctantly admitted: "Yeah, nothing seems to hurt. Well, only my back feels kind of strange."

Suddenly, Ahirata removed the soft thing from my hand and said in a very careful voice: "Yes, about that. I think I figured out why when you arrived in this world, your soul settled somewhere around your vertebrae."

I don't like how this sounds.

Before I could do anything, there was a sudden brief click and Ahirata said: "I turned off the lamp. Now, try opening your eyes."

Despite some nervousness, I slowly lifted my eyelids. For a few moments, my vision was blurry, but after several seconds, it finally focused on Ahirata, who was now wearing white gloves, very similar to medical ones. Interesting where she got them from?

Ahirata swallowed and said, pointing behind my back: "Whenever you're ready, just look back."

"Okay, you're probably just building up the atmos-" I started saying, slowly turning my head but froze. From the upper part of my back protruded wide wings, with a span about twice the length of my arms. They were blonde in color, just like my hair. This. . .

This is just unnatural. I, I feel wrong! This isn't mine! This thing shouldn't be there!

Apparently, Ahirata noticed the growing emotions on my face and hurried to explain: "When Daniel brought you here, you had multiple injuries. But the most serious ones were around your back. There were literally areas where you could see the spine. Well, during the healing process, I discovered that these wings were, like, there all this time, under your skin and muscles. When I put your soul in the right place, it broke the magical connection with the wings, paralyzing them. That's why your back stopped hurting."

"Could you just leave the wings there, under the skin? Or cut them out altogether!?!?" I asked, slightly raising my voice. I don't want to walk around with this monstrosity!

Ahirata sighed and said, shaking her head: "Arthur, that's just dangerous. These wings are tightly connected to your spine. And, I want to clarify, I have no idea what a normal skeleton of your species should look like. A small mistake could lead to disability."

I slightly opened my mouth to repeat another part of the question, but Ahirata quickly raised her hand and said: "And no, I couldn't leave them there. Releasing your wings outside, like, filled the holes that formed in your back. Consider that the wings gave you a new set of back muscles."

Letting out a dejected sigh, I surprisingly managed to move my hand enough to put it on my forehead and asked: "And on top of everything else, they're just dead weight?"

"Well, I could connect your soul to the wings, so they would at least start moving. But if you don't want to, then yes, it's just decoration," said Ahirata, slightly rubbing the lower part of her muzzle.

Oh god, why is all this happening to me?

I sighed heavily and with some effort threw off the blanket and pulled my knees to myself. Putting my head on them, I asked, glancing at Ahirata from the corner of my eye: "If you connect these wings, will they immediately start moving frantically or something?"

"Uh, maybe? I'm not very familiar with this specific aspect, honestly," Ahirata answered, awkwardly rubbing the back of her head. Seriously?

"I thought you once had wings but lost them," I said, pointing my finger at her. Like, Ahirata looks like a regular local dragon in every way, just without wings.

She briefly looked behind her back before turning back to me and saying, rubbing her hands: "Maybe I once did. Maybe I was born this way. I honestly don't know, Arthur. A huge part of my life is absolute and complete uncertainty."

Oh, how can all this get any worse?

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice from somewhere in the distance. Daniel's voice. But it sounded unusually cheerful and, even more surprisingly, it seemed he was singing: "Für die Freiheit, für die Arbeit."

The voice got closer and I managed to hear quiet bouncing of something. A ball? While I was pondering, Daniel continued his cheerful singing: "Für die Freizeit, für die Einigkeit."

"Führen wir Streit!" Daniel sang triumphantly as he entered the room with closed eyes. However, my attention was quickly captured by something new in his appearance. To his right arm was attached a prosthetic made of gray metal, through small gaps here and there some blue glow could be seen. Oh, and in his palm he was holding a basketball.

Where did he even find something like that in this world? Like, is there anyone in Equestria who can play such games?

Finally Daniel opened his eyes, which slightly widened at the sight of me conscious. But eventually he shook his head and said, raising his left hand: "Oh, hey, Arthur. Feeling alive?"

I sighed and said, with difficulty rubbing my face with my hands: "I can barely move. And these things on my back are just horrible."

"Hey, it's not that bad, Arthur. Um, they match your hair?" Ahirata tried to comfort me. Hm, now I believe that she communicates with Rarity.

However, Daniel said, leaning against the wall: "Honestly? When I saw these wings, I immediately covered you with a blanket. So I wouldn't have to see that."

"Okay, I'm almost ready to agree with you," I sighed, casting a brief glance at my wings. Yes, I would like to cover them with a blanket, so I never have to see them again.

"Do both of you have some kind of problem with wings or what?" Ahirata asked, confusedly looking between both of us.

"It just looks unnatural! Everything in my head screams that a human shouldn't have wings, that it's not right, that it needs to be removed," I answered frustratedly, raising both hands up.

Daniel hmmed and said, shifting his weight to his left leg: "And that's not mentioning the whole bunch of muscles you'll have to work out for proper wing function. Arthur, do you want to build a second set of pectoral muscles?"

WHAT!? What nonsense are you talking about?

Apparently, Daniel noticed my facial expression and said, raising an eyebrow awkwardly: "Look. Pectoral muscles are involved in raising, lowering, and rotating arms. Basically, wings are just arms but a bit different. So in order to move them, you either have an extra set of pectoral muscles to train, or you just have to make a very strong chest. Which do you prefer?"

Nervously swallowing, I looked at my chest, which was covered by a simple white tank top. Sighing, I said quickly looking away: "I'm not going to check. I probably won't even use these things anyway."

Ahirata sighed and said, rubbing her bridge: "Anyway, I still don't understand your problem with wings. So, Arthur, just tell me if you ever decide you want to use the wings."

Before I could answer, Daniel suddenly bounced the ball against the floor and said, catching it: "But first you need to stretch your muscles. After two months of lying in bed, you need, let's say, therapy."

I think you just want to mock an almost disabled person and test your prosthetic.

Speaking of the latter, I struggled to swing my legs off the bed and asked, pointing at his metallic arm: "Where did you get something like that? I don't think anything like this is possible here."

Daniel smiled broadly, looking at his prosthetic. However, there was something strange about it. It wasn't a predatory or sadistic smile. Just, well, normal.

Finally, he sighed and said contentedly: "I thought so too. But on my birthday, my acquaintances decided to collectively surprise me."

What did people find in him to give such gifts on his birthday? Just as I frowned, Ahirata quickly said with a nod: "I actually helped with choosing suitable materials. Sorry I couldn't come to Canterlot."

Daniel gave her a brief glance before smirking and saying: "It's fine. You have lots of work here in Tartarus."

Without leaving a single second of silence, he suddenly turned his head to me and said: "So, Arthur, are you coming with me to stretch your muscles? Or will you wait for them to somehow magically remember how to work?"

I agree. But only because I'm afraid you'll sit with me if I choose the second option.

"Only because I want to get away from you as quickly as possible," I snorted before rising from the bed and shakily standing on both feet. However, the weight of the wings immediately pulled me back and down, back to the bed. The next moment I was right back where I started.

"That's why the only logical angel is the biblical one." Daniel chuckled, extending his metal hand to me while holding the basketball with his real one. Reluctantly accepting his offer, I couldn't help but notice that the metal hand was very warm. I would even say, almost hot.

Before I could guess the reason for this, Daniel pulled me by the hand and said in an elevated tone: "Come on, get ready. I asked Ahirata to organize such a sports ground, whew! You'll just be amazed."

I frowned at how he was once again leading me by the hand, but after a few seconds just sighed and asked: "Why do you even need a sports ground in Tartarus?"

Daniel turned slightly towards me and smugly said, adjusting his glasses: "Three reasons. For your recovery after the coma, for testing the prosthetic, and for relaxing the brain. Now guess in what order of priority these three stand."

The correct answer is only for testing the prosthetic. Because first, you don't seem like the caring type. And second, how the hell can sports relax the brain? Rather, cause pain throughout the body.

Finally, we went down a long staircase and ended up right at the castle exit. A small stream flowed in front of us, with lots of flowers and bushes on either side. However, something else took over my mind at that moment. Surprisingly, after descending the long staircase of the castle, my legs don't hurt at all. Looks like I really got stronger. But at the cost of two months of sleep. If I were a student, I would consider this a win-win situation.

"So, here we are!" Daniel said, releasing my hand and pointing forward with both hands. There, I saw a stone sports ground. There were two basketball hoops, several bars of different heights for pull-ups, and other scary things. But on the other hand, I can't deny that I feel slightly stiff.

"Am I correct in understanding that you really want to humiliate me in basketball?" I asked with a disappointed sigh when I looked at Daniel's smiling face expression.

"Hey, you can just work out here all alone. I'm just offering to warm up in a playful way. And anyway, do you really consider a disabled person a serious opponent?" Daniel asked, laughing.

You're the most dangerous disabled person I know. Plus, I have a huge load of ballast on my back.

Noticing my gloomy expression, Daniel briefly coughed and asked: "So are you going to play or not?"

Sighing, I said reluctantly, taking a step toward the center of the court: "Only to warm up. I still consider you a guy who someone needs to put in his place."

"Cool," Daniel responded impassively, raising his left thumb, before following me to the center of the court. After a few seconds, he placed the ball on the ground in the center of the field and took several steps back.

"Shouldn't there be some kind of referee or something, so we catch this ball right in the air?" I asked, looking around.

"Oh don't worry Arthur, we'll improvise. But if anything, you're the referee. After all, I don't know the rules at all," Daniel replied dismissively waving his hand. Wait, I understand that you seem to have always lived under a rock, but to such an extent?

Like he clearly looks athletic. He must have played on some team in school or something.

Taking a deep breath, I rubbed my face with my hands and said: "You're just driving me crazy. Just let me count to three and we'll start."

Daniel quickly nodded in response and removed his glasses before putting them in his pants pocket. Interesting, is he trying to show how cool he is this way? Snorting, I leaned slightly toward the ball, trying to ignore the weight of the wings and began counting: "One. Two. . ."

"Three!" I said reaching for the ball with my hand. But Daniel like lightning quickly grabbed the ball with his metal hand and ran around me from the side, dribbling the ball. When I turned around, he had already jumped and sent the ball straight into the hoop. WITH HIS FOOT!

"That's against the rules!" I shouted while the ball hit the stone hoop exactly and passing through the net, hit the ground.

"Oh really? Damn." Daniel muttered, walking up to the ball and carefully throwing it at my feet.

What a strange guy you are after all.

Shaking my head, I picked up the ball from the ground and asked somewhat tensely: "In basketball, you can't hit with feet or fists. Understand?"

"Sir, yes, Sir!" Daniel responded loudly, still standing right under the hoop. Hm, maybe I can take advantage of this a bit? I was never good at basketball, but at least I know the rules.

Taking a deep breath, I took two long steps before carefully jumping on my tiptoes and sending the ball straight into the basket. However, Daniel simply grabbed the edges with both hands and headed the ball back in the opposite direction. And damn it, I could clearly see his smug smile through the mesh of the basket.

Wait, did he break a rule here? And if so, which one?

I frowned in contemplation, but Daniel didn't let me concentrate. He ran towards the ball that he had headed off, clearly intending to take it. However, this time I managed to react and ran to intercept. To my own surprise, we seemed to be moving at equal speed. No, more than that, I was overtaking him!

With a smug smile, I reached out my hand, ready to grab the ball. But I didn't take into account one thing. Daniel is taller than me. And therefore his limbs are longer. With a sharp step forward, Daniel pushed the ball forward, ducked and ran right under my outstretched arm.

Gritting my teeth, I tried to run again to intercept the ball. But it was too late. Daniel was holding the ball in his left hand and hanging on to the basket with his right. The next thing I knew, he was throwing it into the basket and shouting: "GOOOOOAL!"

"What the hell kind of goal? We're playing basketball!" I shouted irritably while running up to him to prevent him from pulling any more unrealistic tricks.

"Oh, really? Then what do they shout when they win?" Asked Daniel, still hanging on the hoop with one metal hand. I don't know what irritates me more in this situation. The fact that he can hang like that on something.

Or the fact that I have no idea how to answer his question?

Like, probably you need to shout something when you win. But what?

Finally, I sighed dejectedly and said reluctantly: "Fine, I guess you can shout goal."

Daniel finally got down from the hoop and with a light motion pushed the ball to me and said: "Good. Now, I have a proposal. You run to that hoop over there and try to throw the ball in. And I'll give you a head start before I start chasing. Cool?"

At first, I wanted to just nod. But some feeling, a thought stopped me. Why the hell should I accept his head start and feed his ego even more? No way. Snorting, I put the ball at my feet and said, stepping aside: "No way. We'll start from the same spot and try to intercept the ball."

For a few moments, Daniel just looked at me before shrugging and saying, standing next to me: "Well, if that's what you want, fine. Start the countdown or something."

Hm, thought you'd say something like 'excellent' again.

Exhaling, I started counting slowly, while thinking about what to do with Daniel: "One."

Suddenly an idea came to my head. Maybe these wings are completely unnatural and immobile, but I can use them. I just need to turn quickly at the right moment. Mentally nodding to myself, I shifted slightly forward, just an inch closer to the ball. Daniel didn't even react.

"TWO, THREE!" I quickly finished counting before turning my back to Daniel, blocking his view with my wings. I felt his fingers collide with them, he didn't manage to react! Breathing out with satisfaction, I grabbed the ball from the ground with my right hand and started quickly dribbling it towards the hoop.

But Daniel appeared right next to me with his eyes wide open, watching the ball. How is this possible? A few minutes ago he was slower than me, and now he's as fast or even faster! Growling, I looked at the basketball hoop, which was still too far away to throw. But suddenly an idea popped into my head.

Daniel is currently without glasses. So he sees worse than usual. Hmm.

As soon as Daniel put his hand out to try and knock the ball out of my hands, I suddenly started running sideways, getting further and further away from Daniel. Instead of running straight after me, he ran straight into the ring to prevent my ball from hitting the ring. Just as I needed to do.

I quickly moved the ball from hand to hand, trying to knock Daniel down as he stood in front of the ring with his hands up. After a few seconds I took a step forward and turned my body so that the wings blocked the hand with the ball. Then I turned abruptly, passed the ball to my other hand and threw it into the ring.

Daniel, to his surprise, was able to react and jump up to catch the ball in flight with both hands. However, they were too far apart, and the ball flew between them before solemnly flying into the net. Almost reflexively, I pumped my fist in the air and shouted "GOAL! "

Okay, I admit it's really not the worst idea.

To my surprise, Daniel uttered no cry of disappointment, justification or anything else peculiar to narcissus. He just picked up the ball from the floor and said to me: "That was cool, Arthur. Especially with wings. Can I ask a question off topic? "

I frowned slightly, preparing myself for something terrible, but said anyway: "Okay, you can. "

" What do you dream of, Arthur? What do you want to achieve in life? "He asked, looking at me calmly and very seriously. Why is he asking me this?

I thought for a few seconds about how to answer his question before I reluctantly replied: "I want to find my talent, so to speak. Well, it's more correct to say what I'm good at and what I like to do".

Daniel blinked before tilting his head to the side, "Isn't your talent drawing? That's what you earn money with. "

I snorted and replied, averting my eyes slightly: "You know, it's harder than it looks! I've been trying to figure it out for a long time. I like the money for drawing, the grades I get when I post something online, or the process itself."

"Well, um, why did you start drawing at all? Daniel asked in a tone as if he wanted to help. Not that I really believed him.

But I feel like you just won't leave me alone.

"I was jealous. " I answered reluctantly, crossing my arms.

"What?" Daniel asked with a hint of surprise in his voice.

"I was jealous, you know? There was this guy at school who drew and everyone called him a genius. I looked at his doodles and decided that I could draw better than him and get more recognition for it! So I started training to draw better than him." I replied with an exasperated sigh.

Daniel blinked a few times before asking the most terrifying question: "And to show that you don't scribble, unlike that guy, did you choose an avant-garde style?"

"I WANTED TO BEAT HIM ON HIS OWN FIELD! " I snapped irritably, before quickly covering my forehead with my hand.

"Sorry. I'm just not feeling well. I've been asleep for two months, then, these damn wings and your questions, finally. " I said with a sigh.

Daniel was silent for a while before he took a step back and said with a strange look, "It's okay. Let's just play a little more to warm you up and I'll go about my business. "

He looks almost. . . disappointed?

I was confused for a couple of moments before stepping aside and saying, "Okay. But do not hope that you will be able to get into the ring at least one more time. "

"I didn't count on it. " Daniel replied unperturbed.

Yeah, yeah, keep pretending.

With a snort, I stood some distance away from him and prepared for whatever he might do.

For the first time in a long time, there was real activity in Tartarus. The ball flew quickly through the air, bouncing loudly off the sides of the basketball hoop. With each passing moment, the seconds of silence grew shorter. Both players were warming up. Although one of them was clearly thinking about something other than the game.

Further away, many miles to the east, was the source of all the water for Tartarus. A great lake in the land of dragons. But no one had been near it for a long time. What would a dragon do with simple water?

On a small hill nearby sat the daughter of the Dragonlord himself, Princess Ember. She was clad in golden armour up to her claws. The perfect material for reflecting magic. It is quite traditional for dragons, which have often clashed with ponies in their history.

Over the past few months, Ember had interviewed everyone she could to find out at least something about the creature that had taken her father's hand. All she has learned is that it was as tall as a pony princess and had black hair. Very little information.

Sighing, she rose into the air and muttered to herself, "Looks like I'll have to look outside the lands. "

POV: Daniel Ctumer
Time: The day after the basketball game, 9:00
Location: Canterlot

Right now I was standing in front of the dilapidated building where I met the filly on my birthday. Cozy Glow was her name, right? Yeah, I think so. In any case, my initial assumption proved correct. This is an orphanage.

"Why did I even come here?" I asked myself. However, my own voice was muffled by the rain that mercilessly beat down on my head. Not that it really mattered. Even in a perfect environment, I would hardly be able to answer this question. I never liked children, and I'm not ready to adopt anyone for many reasons. So why?

For several seconds, I took a deep breath before quietly muttering to myself: "To prepare a backup. Just to prepare a backup in case Celestia gets really bad. A backup for an absolutely impossible scenario."

Exhaling, I began carefully walking around the orphanage from the side. The thing is, I'm sure the ponies inside simply won't allow me to get close to the children. Especially in Canterlot. Here, everyone saw what I did when the changelings invaded. So, I can only hope that the only being I sense in the backyard is Cozy.

If not, then I need to be ready to teleport as far away as possible. It won't do anyone any good if people think I like sneaking into orphanages.

Snorting, I walked up to the metal fence and looked through the bars. However, the raindrops falling on my glasses made it impossible to see anything clearly. I can only rely on my senses. Cozy is right ahead.

Sighing, I teleported to get to the other side of the fence and began slowly walking forward. With difficulty, through the raindrops, I managed to see a sandbox in front of me, over which stood a large umbrella. And right there, sitting on the sand was a filly with pale pink fur and pale blue mane. Her gaze was completely focused on the chessboard, which had only white pieces. The black ones were simply missing.

After quickly looking around to make sure no one was nearby, I slowly sat down on the sand in front of Cozy before saying slowly: "Hey."

"Ah!" Cozy quickly exhaled, looking up at me and freezing for a moment. Perhaps the child simply forgot that I promised to return.

After a few seconds, she moved back just a little, along with the chessboard, and mumbled quietly: "Hi."

Yo̡̱͓̟͌̑̽̿u͈̿ ̳̰̜̩̺̑͆́̊̾ẇ̢̟͆͆͢i̜̝̇͊l̼̒̐͑̒͢͟ͅl̨̬͎̙̜̀́̒̽͂ ͖̋̓͟n̛͓̠̥͛̕e̮̮̾̏͑͜v̥͎̺̦͒̔͗̉e͕͍͗̕r̮͐ ̗͕̈̆b̛̥͉͎̃̑ē͓̗̓̀͜͡ͅ ̯̯̒̃f͘ͅo̞̟̙͊͐͞r̢̳̭͂̍͡ǵ̝̩͞i̧͙̰̭̇̊̀̚v͉̒é̗n̬̻̣̍̈̇̋͢,̺̹͖͂̅͋ ̡͈͕̋̈̇c̨̪̝̘͌́̊͐ṙ̡̳̻̲̃̍̑ȳ̛̤͍̺̔́͜͠ͅb̫͙̹̤͛̂͑͝a̡̖̮̹͊̀̎͂by̧͖̋̄.̘̮͒̾

Quickly shaking my head, I decided to quickly start the conversation and asked: "Why are you sitting here? I think you should be having breakfast or something at this time."

Cozy sighed and reluctantly exhaled, slightly moving a piece on the board: "I don't want those colts to get to me again. So, I quickly grabbed breakfast and came here while no one was looking."

Slightly shifting my gaze, I saw a plate with something that looked like porridge, which stood in the corner of the sandbox. Judging by its appearance, the food hadn't been touched. Returning to Cozy, I asked another question: "Why are you always with your chessboard?"

Her wings fluttered awkwardly as her hoof moved another random piece again, and she finally began speaking: "Well, chess is kind of my talent. Even though I haven't won any competitions. And, well, I just feel good when I move the pieces wherever I want."

That explains why there are no black pieces on the board.

Suddenly, Cozy asked surprisingly innocently: "Why are you even talking to me? I'm just a simple filly, and you're, well. The caretakers say you're a terrible monster who defeated Celestia herself."

Oh. I can't answer normally right now. Sorry.

Sighing, I asked while slightly wiping my glasses: "Honestly? You managed to interest me that time. In some ways, you remind me of myself when I was younger."

"Really?" Cozy asked in surprise, lifting herself slightly as if wanting to get closer, but something was holding her back.

Closing my eyes, I said slowly: "Well, in some ways. I was also bullied by peers for a long time and couldn't respond. Even though I had parents unlike you, they didn't really help me. Mother just did nothing."

Exhaling, I looked at Cozy and finished: "And father tried very hard to teach me the rules of behavior in society. By 'very hard,' I mean by absolutely any methods. Beatings, deprivation of food, sleeping outside at night and all that."

Cozy awkwardly remained silent for a while, only slightly moving pieces with light hoof movements. But eventually she asked: "And, how did you end up dealing with it in the end?"

I think it's better to tell it like it is than lie for something that I don't understand myself.

Exhaling, I reluctantly answered: "I became stronger. Every day I trained, set rules for myself, created additional difficulties. In a few months, I transformed from a fat guy into a real athlete. And with this power, I started fighting with absolutely everyone I didn't like. Bullies, popular girls, absolutely everyone. I even broke my own father's nose. Everyone around was struck with fear or, rather, disgust towards me."

Cozy looked at me for a while before saying with a smile: "I knew it! Only power, strength will allow me to deal with those colts. I just need to figure out how to get it."

I shuddered hearing these words. Right now, right this second, did I push her onto my path? Was it me who pushed her to the final decision! Gritting my teeth, I wanted to shout, grab her hooves and tell her that she completely misunderstood everything.

But the desire for power is exactly what's needed from someone who will form a backup. In the end, I would like someone to volunteer for this role.

Quietly letting out a dejected sigh, I said slowly: "Listen, Kozy. This is a very bad idea. At first it will seem like a real success. The feeling that you can do something will be intoxicating. But only until you can find a new dose, new victims, so as not to think about those who have suffered from your actions."

Exhaling, I finished: "But if you still think this is the path you want to take, then I'll help. I know a way that will let you feel power. Even if briefly."

"REALLY!?" Cozy exclaimed, jumping up and placing her front hooves on my legs. Not a trace remained of the initial fear.

Carefully, I removed her hooves from my legs and said slowly while standing up: "Really. Just, please think seriously about this, Cozy. I don't know when I'll return to you, but by that time please, think well about whether you want power."

Cozy nodded very actively and squeaked, looking up at me: "Okay, I'll think!"

I... I regret that I still want to thank Celestia for everything she's done for me.

Sighing, I waved my mechanical hand goodbye and looked to the side, at one of the castle towers. In the next moment, I appeared at its top and quickly grabbed the spire with my left hand.

Suddenly, shivers ran through my entire body and my breathing became difficult, convulsive. I lied. I pushed a child down my path, the path of destroying other personalities, for the sake of keeping my own afloat. Slowly, I sat down on the tower, still holding onto the spire and put my glasses in my pocket. Then, my metal hand covered my face in an attempt to calm me down. UNSUCCESSFULLY.

"I-I'll go to Celestia. As soon as I calm down and sleep," I muttered to myself.

Hold on. Without perfection, you're just a normal person. With ups and downs. With moments of weakness. Keep going, Daniel, everything's fine.